Kaizer Chiefs’ Katsvairo rejects move to Rollers

Kaizer Chiefs striker Michelle Katsvairo will rather rot on the bench for the whole season than ply his trade with the local BTC premiership league.

The 27 year old Zimbabwean was as part of a symbiotic relationship between Kaizer Chiefs and Township Rollers, to be loaned to Mapalastina for a season. WeekendSport has since established that the player who is not in Steve Khomphela’s plans for the upcoming season has since rejected the offer. “It is true, it didn’t materialize but the reason is simply that the player doesn’t want to play his football in Botswana,” Rollers spokesperson Bafana Pheto confirmed on Thursday.

The latest development has now sent Rollers back to the drawing board as their search for a striker continues. Said Pheto: “We are now looking for striker be it a local or foreigner. It’s not like we are disappointed, no, if the player does not want to play for you there is nothing you can do but rather look for other options,” Pheto said. Rollers had prior to the talks with the Zimbabwean, rebuffed Tanzanian striker Rashid Mandawa. It remains to be seen whether Nikola Kavazovic, Teenage Mpote and Dragjolio Stanolovich will swallow their pride and recapture the player despite BDF XI’s adoration for the lanky striker. Mapalastina are expected to kick off the new season with an away fixture against new arrivals Tafic on the 19th of August.

The 27 year old Katsvairo had been a shadow of himself ever since penning a contract with Chiefs last year, managing only one goal in 12 appearances. The performance sparked emotions within the team with offloading appearing as the only solution for the striker who has also played for the Zimbabwean national team. Reports from South Africa however indicate that the player will be loaned to one of the PSL teams to get game time and convince his gaffer from within a touching distance.

For Rollers, it was not only about offering the player a lifeline but also a bargain for the team which is in need of a striker. Katsvairo would have come in as an assist to Jerome Ramatlhakwana who is the team’s main striker. Katsvairo can be an enthralling footballing force on a good day. His combination of speed, strength and industry makes him a constant source of menace for opposing defences and at 27, he has reached a stage where the experience gained enables him to perform more consistently.

Despite the botched deal, Rollers is adamant that the relationship with Chiefs will continue. “The friendship will continue and we will still get some players and give them some in future, but we can’t be forcing players into this if they are not comfortable with it,” said the soft spoken Pheto. Meanwhile the club will today assemble for their AGM at UB auditorium where delegates from various branches will be given a report of the past season. The team is one of the better performers in the club licensing drive.